Freshwater Protein Skimming

[Rio240]

Does anyone have any experience of using a protein skimmer with a freshwater aquarium to reduce nitrates? Or, experience of using a sulphur denitrator?

(also, can someone please show me as a newcomer to this site how to easily access my posts!!!)

Many thanks!

 

[prankster705]

I don't think that there are such things as freshwater protein skimmers... I think it has something with the density of SW and FW or somthing... Ask andywg, he should know...

 

[andywg]

Skimmers tend not to work in FW. There are a few who claim that they can get skimmers to work in FW, but the skimmers tend to be huge and far more costly and trouble to run than doing water changes. For most skimmers, Fw is a no no.

The problem is the way that bubbles form in SW compared to FW, and the way the Dissolved Organic Compounds work.

sulphur denitrators can work well, though you often need to run a redox probe through a dosing pump to ensure exaclty the right amount of flow goes through them to give the right conditions to the anoxic bacteria which convert nitrate to nitrogen.

All in all, it is far better and easier to just do water changes in FW where you don't have the added cost of salt involved.

 

[Rio240]

Skimmers tend not to work in FW. There are a few who claim that they can get skimmers to work in FW, but the skimmers tend to be huge and far more costly and trouble to run than doing water changes. For most skimmers, Fw is a no no.

The problem is the way that bubbles form in SW compared to FW, and the way the Dissolved Organic Compounds work.

sulphur denitrators can work well, though you often need to run a redox probe through a dosing pump to ensure exaclty the right amount of flow goes through them to give the right conditions to the anoxic bacteria which convert nitrate to nitrogen.

All in all, it is far better and easier to just do water changes in FW where you don't have the added cost of salt involved.

thanks guys!

 

[Teelie]

There are freshwater protein skimmers but as andywg said, not worth the cost or IMO, the effort.

 

[raptorrex]

I can supply you with the number of John and Mike Roberts. they make a 1m tall freshwater protein skimmer, among other things, like uv clarifiers. just drop me a pm!